Published: Mar 04, 2017, 02:19 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 04, 2017, 08:29 AM (IST)
Riding on Kamran Akmal’s hundred, Peshawar Zalmi on Friday beat Karachi Kings in the third Qualifying Final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 2 in Dubai. Kamran’s knock, which was well supported by Dawid Malan and Marlon Samuels’ vital contributions, helped Peshawar post 181 for 3 in their stipulated 20 overs. In reply, disciplined bowling by Peshawar bowlers restricted Karachi to 157 for 7, thus securing a 24-run win for them. With this victory, Peshawar will now take on Quetta Gladiators in the final on Sunday in Lahore. The match is being seen as a big push for Pakistan’s bid to make a case for return of international cricket in their backyard. LIVE UPDATES, Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings, 3rd Qualifying Final, PSL
Chasing a daunting 182, Karachi Kings were never in the chase from the beginning. They lost promising young opener Babar Azam early in the chase. He tried playing a Chris Jordan delivery on the on side, but a leading edge went high in the air in the opposite direction and Wahab Riaz completed a simple catch. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara tried to play a few shots upfront and keep the scorecard ticking. After hitting a six off Mohammad Hafeez, he perished soon trying to hit a fiery Wahab delivery over the mid-wicket. Instead, he ended up miscuing it to point, giving Samuels an easy catch.
Shoaib Malik was the next to go, as he fell for a golden duck, returning Hafeez a simple catch at mid-on off Jordan. Ravi Bopara also failed, adding just 6 runs on the board and getting stumped off Hafeez’s bowling. This brought the Caribbean duo of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard in the middle. Gayle, who had a quiet start, tried to make up for it with a few lusty blows. The duo added 45 runs for the fifth wicket but Wahab returned with a lethal opener to get his side another breakthrough. Gayle perished after 31-ball 40.
Pollard then kept the Karachi hopes alive, hitting some meaty blows with his willow. He put his brute force on display, hammering the bowlers with ease and collecting quick runs. He got ample support from Imad Wasim, but once the two were dismissed in quick succession, Karachi were shut out of the game. Jordan (3 for 26), Wahab (3 for 24) were the main architects of the win with the ball while Hasan Ali and Hafeez also did their job.
Earlier, Karachi Kings won the toss and asked Peshawar Zalmi to bat. The first innings was all about Kamran Akmal, who hit the first hundred of PSL 2017 and the second overall. He became only the second batsman in the history of PSL to score a hundred after Sharjeel Khan did it for Islamabad United against Akmal’s Peshawar in PSL 2016.
Kamran added 97 runs with Malan 36(31) off just 69 balls for the opening wicket. He completed his fifty off just 33 balls, but became more destructive post completing his fifty. He got an able ally in Samuels 37 not out off 22 balls after losing Malan, as the two added 77 runs for the second wicket and took Peshawar towards a competitive total.
Kamran Akmal fell for 65-ball 104; a knock that had 6 boundaries and 7 maximums, in the final over. Karachi bowlers did well in the final overs, pegging things back as they gave away just 21 runs in last 3 overs. Peshawar, who looked well on course for a score above 200, were eventually restricted for 181 with plenty of batting left in the dugout. Imad, Mohammad Aamer, Sohail Khan and Usman Khan did a fine job in restricting Peshawar. However, as it turned out, runs proved enough in the end, as Peshawar prevailed by 24 runs to seal a date in the final with Quetta Gladiators.
The final between the two sides in Lahore is going to be monumental, with PCB leaving no stone unturned to make it a success. However, the final is likely to be played under the shadow of terror, with overseas players backing out. Quetta have already lost out on all their foreign players, but unlike them, Peshawar will almost likely have all but one of their players travelling to Lahore. A successful conduct of the match will go a long way in Pakistan’s bid to make a case for return of international cricket in their backyard.
Brief scores:
Peshawar Zalmi 181 for 3 in 20 overs (Kamran Akmal 104, Dawid Malan 36, Marlon Samuels 37; Mohammad Aamer 1 for 31) beat Karachi Kings 157 for 7 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 40, Kieron Pollard 47; Chris Jordan 3 for 26, Wahab Riaz 3 for 24) by 24 runs.
Man of the Match: Kamran Akmal
